Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/404



Earl Hakon ruled over Norway, and paid no scatt; because the Danish king gave him all the scatt revenue that belonged to the king in Norway, for the expense and trouble he had in defending the country against Gunhild's sons.

The Emperor Otto was at that time in the Saxon country, and sent a message to King Harald, the Danish king, that he must take on the true faith and be baptized, he and all his people whom he ruled; "otherwise," says the emperor, u we will march against him with an army." The Danish king ordered the land defence to be fitted out, the Danish wall to be well fortified, and his ships of war rigged out. He sent a message also to Earl Hakon in Nor¬ way to come to him early in spring, and with as many men as he could possibly raise. In spring Earl Hakon levied an army over the whole country which was very numerous, and with it he sailed to meet the Danish king. The king received him in the most honourable manner. Many other chiefs also joined the Danish king with their men, so that he had ga¬ thered a very large army.

Olaf Tryggvesson had been all winter in Vendland, as before related, and went the same winter to the baronies in Vendland which had formerly been under Queen Geyra, but had withdrawn themselves from obedience and payment of taxes. There Olaf made war, killed many people, burnt out others, took much property, and laid all of them under subjection